Center of Family Love

PROJECT PURPOSE

The Center of Family Love (CFL) is establishing the Oklahoma Institute for Cognitive Development (OICD) on 80 acres in the OKC metro area, extending resources to the underserved in western Oklahoma. This will generationally impact hundreds of thousands of elderly and disabled persons and their families. ARPA funding and matched donations will build the first OICD viral-resistant, 69,300 sq ft., state-of-the-art building including on-site therapeutic, medical, and dental clinics. Additional Group Homes will generate long-term affordable housing options. This transformational investment will reduce the financial burden on the state while increasing resources. The Newfield Center, the first OICD structure, will expand CFL enterprise programming, vocational training and job placement services, creating job growth in partnership with local businesses. On-site treatment clinics will provide professionals in training with opportunities to work with IDDs. Studios for fitness classes and art programming are open to local citizens, and the performance theater will promote the arts across communities. With over forty-years of experience creating dynamic solutions to IDD problems, CFL has the expertise and scope to increase resources. The OCID will reduce the 5500 person, 13 year waitlist, while connecting intergenerational vulnerable populations including elderly, disabled veterans, and developmentally disabled individuals.

EVIDENCE

? The Silent Faces of Homelessness are People with Severe Disabilities The well-document vulnerability of ID persons for exploitation and homelessness ? www.NCLD.org 40,000 Oklahoma Children have a learning disability ? The impact of volunteering in mental health settings - PubMed (nih.gov)?The positive impact of OICD medical, dental, and therapeutic training hours ? Volunteering and Mental Health | Psychreg?Impact of community access to OICD ? Personal development and social inclusion are outcomes critical to the dignity and efficacy of IDD persons (Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 5123; doi:10.3390/ijerph17145123) ? CDC COVID-19 Guidelines, Jan 20, 2022: Avoid poorly ventilated spaces

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Prevention measures required to slow the COVID-19 pandemic compounded the impact on ID and elderly persons as socially-disconnected populations. Vulnerabilities are well-documented, and the measurable impact of increased isolation and anxiety has exacerbated underlying behavioral and physical health conditions. Individuals with IDD are at greater risk for infection and adverse health outcomes from COVID-19 due to their lack of comprehension for prevention methods and increased rates of diabetes, obesity, and heart conditions. Pandemic response efforts, including space constraints and infection prevention, severely limited social, educational, employment, and therapeutic care programs, resulting in significant social disengagement. The pandemic has created a disproportionate impact of social distancing on vulnerable elderly and IDD persons, many of whom depend on physical proximity to caregivers and loved ones to bridge gaps in intellectual and communication abilities. Isolation and interaction restrictions have left many individuals without day-to-day interactions that recognize changes of health and well-being. This situation has left dramatically weakened the sense of safety, community, and overall health. We must take novel approaches to keep those with IDD connected with communities. The architectural design for OICD buildings incorporates larger spaces, higher ventilation rates, operable windows, and finishes that can be easily disinfected.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

? # Special needs individuals by type of disability ? # IEP?s prepared / reviewed ? # Special needs teachers/coordinators ? # parents/ teachers involved in IEP development ? % IEP?s meeting time requirements ? % parents involved in school ? % receiving all required IEP services ? % with improved reading/math skills from last quarter ? % with improved communication skills from last quarter ? % with improved social skills from last quarter ? % graduating to pre-vocational or vocational positions ? # and reach of community trainings in schools ? # of students with in-school services ? # medical and community volunteers

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma